THE GOSPEL OF MARK--THE BOOK OF MARK

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

Introduction:

“This is the title of the book, the subject of which is the Gospel; a joyful account of the ministry, miracles, actions, and sufferings of Christ: the writer of it was not one of the twelve apostles, but an evangelist; the same with John Mark, or John, whose surname was Mark: John was his Hebrew name, and Mark his Gentile name, Acts 12:12, 25, and was Barnabas’s sister’s son, Colossians 4:10, his mother’s name was Mary, Acts 12:12.

“The Apostle Peter calls him his son, 1 Peter 5:13, if he is the same; and he is thought to have wrote his Gospel from him.” --- John Gill’s Expositor.

Author: John Mark

Analysis of the Gospel of Mark:

1) Mark, the son of Mary of Jerusalem, Acts 12:12.

2) Referred to as John Mark in Acts 12:2. See Introduction.

3) A relative of Barnabas, Colossians 4:10.

4) Associated with Paul and Barnabas on their First Missionary Journey, Acts 12:25 -13:5.

5) Temporarily alienated from Paul, Acts 13:13; 15:37-39.

6) Afterwards restored to his friendship, 2 Timothy 4:11.

7) Ancient tradition certifies that Mark was a companion of Peter.

8) The book is called Peter’s Gospel by some very ancient writers. It is generally conceded that Peter may have furnished, or suggested, much of the material found in the book.

Key Word: "Straightway" indicating immediate action; repeated throughout the entire book.

To Whom Addressed: It is thought that the writer had in mind the Roman or Gentile Christians in his preparation of the book. That it was not especially adapted to Jewish readers seems clear from the fact that it contains few references to Old Testament prophecy. Furthermore, the explanation of Jewish words and customs would indicate that the author had foreigners in mind when he wrote. See, Mark 3:17; 5:41; 7:1-4, 11, 34.

Main Theme: "Christ, the Tireless SERVANT of God and Man." The Life of Jesus is portrayed as crowded with kindly deeds:

1) His devotions interrupted, Mark 1:35-37.

2) No time to eat, Mark 3:20.

3) Yielding to such perpetual calls for service that his friends said he was unbalanced, Mark 3:21.

4) Pursued when he sought rest, Mark 6:31-34.

Distinctive Features:

1) It is the shortest of the four Gospels.

2) The style is vivid and picturesque.

3) Much of the subject matter is found also in Matthew and Luke, but it is not mere repetition, for it contains many details not found in either of the others.

4) The Gospel of Mark opens, like that of John, with a declaration of the divinity of Jesus Christ, but unlike John he does not enlarge upon the doctrine.

5) A careful study of the book reveals the fact that the aim of the author is to let the wonderful works of Jesus testify to his deity, rather than frequent statements of the writer.

Many Personal Touches are found in this gospel:

1) Jesus "was with the wild beasts," Mark 1:13.

2) "He surnamed them Boanerges," Mark 3:17.

3) "Jesus was much displeased," Mark 10:14.

4) "They were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid," (the Apostles), Mark 10:32.

5) "The common people heard him gladly," Mark 12:37.

6) "Is not this the carpenter?" Mark 6:3.

Although emphasizing Christ’s divine power, the author often alludes to his HUMAN FEELINGS:

1) His disappointment, Mark 3:5.

2) His weariness, Mark 4:38.

3) His wonder, Mark 6:6.

4) His sighs, Mark 7:34; 8:12.

5) His affection, Mark 10:21.

Mark stresses the MIGHTY WORKS of Jesus:

NOTE: Matthew harks back to the past, and deals largely with the prophecies for the sake of Jewish readers, and also gives much space to the discourses of our Lord. Mark is more condensed; has little to say concerning prophecy; gives only a brief report of the discourses, BUT LAYS GREAT STRESS UPON THE MIGHTY WORKS OF JESUS.

Nineteen miracles are recorded in this short book which demonstrate the supernatural power of the Master:

1) Eight, which prove his power over disease, Mark 1:31, 41; 2:3-12; 3:1-5; 5:25; 7:32; 8:23; 10:46.

2) Five, showing his power of nature, Mark 4:39; 6:41, 49; 8:8-9; 11:13-14.

3) Four, demonstrating his authority over demons, Mark 1:25; 5:1-13; 7:25-30; 9:26.

4) Two, show his conquest over death, Mark 5:42; 16:9.

Synopsis: The book may be divided in six parts—

Part I

1) The introductory and preliminary events leading up to the public ministry of Christ, Mark 1:1-13.

2) In this first chapter Mark plunges abruptly into his subject, and pours forth a torrent of description in the first thirteen verses. He opens with the announcement that Jesus is the Son of God, Mark 1:1.

3) He then dwells upon the five preparatory steps for his work:

a. The coming of his herald, John the Baptist, Mark 1:2-8.

b. The Lord’s baptism(immersion) in water, Mark 1:9.

c. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him, Mark 1:10.

d. God the Father’s divine witness to his Sonship, Mark 1:11.

e. His conflict (His Temptation) with his arch enemy, Satan, Mark 1:12,13.

Part II

1) The Early Galilean Ministry, Mark 1:14---7:23.

2) Mark omits entirely the early Judean Ministry, John 2:13---4:2.

Part III

The tour to Tyre and Sidon, Mark 7:24-30.

Part IV

Christ’s teaching and work in Northern Galilee, Mark 7:31---9:50.

Part V

The closing Ministry in Perea and the journey toward Jerusalem, Mark 10:1-52.

Part VI

The events of Passion Week, Mark 11:1---16:8.

HELL--MARK 9:47

GREAT BIBLE WORDS

HELL
Mark 9:47

Introduction:

Recently some religious leaders have declared that Hell is not a literal place, but rather the sufferings that one goes through on this earth. These folks do not believe the Bible as the Word of God. We will see in this study that they have made Jesus Christ to be a liar by denying the doctrine of Hell as taught in the Bible.

There are two words translated hell in the Bible:

Hades (sheol in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament) and Gehenna. Hades and Sheol are the place of the dead implying a place of punishment. Gehenna is literally translated “Hell fire” and is rightly translated “Hell.”

I. THE FACT OF HELL

A. Hell is the most reasonable thing in the world.

1. Some people object to the doctrine of Hell as taught in the New Testament.

2. It is an absolute necessity.

a. No one objects to the fact that our government needs jails and prisons to control lawbreakers.

b. However, man will object to God having a place for His lawbreakers and those who reject His Son, Jesus Christ.

B. Hell is not only reasonable, but it is Scriptural.

1. The New Testament plainly teaches the doctrine of the punishment of the wicked in Hell, Revelation 20:14, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

2. The primary reason we believe the doctrine of Hell is because the Scripture teaches it.

3. The word “gehenna” is found in the New Testament 12 times and 11 of those times it came from the lips of Jesus Himself:

a. Matthew 5:22, “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”

b. Matthew 5:29, “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”

c. Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

d. Matthew 18:9, “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.”

e. Matthew 23:15, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”

f. Matthew 23:33, “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”

g. Mark 9:43, “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:”

h. Mark 9:47, “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:”

i. Luke 12:5, “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.”

j. James 3:6, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”

II. THE NATURE OF HELL

A. Hell is everlasting punishment, Matthew 25:46, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”

B. Hell is the expression of the wrath of God, Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”

1. Hell is everlasting fire, Matthew 25:41, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”

2. Hell is eternal separation from God, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”

3. It is outer darkness, Matthew 8:12, “But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

4. It is the second death, Revelation 20:14, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

CONCLUSION

The duration of Hell is an awful thing to contemplate. It is eternal, everlasting, without end. Many think that “war is hell,” or that “the only hell is the hell we experience here on earth.” There is nothing on earth that can be compared to the Hell of the Bible. It is a terrible thing and there is no need to go there for Jesus has paid the price for our sins on the Cross of Calvary. Faith in Jesus Christ as Savior resolves the problem.